“The fruits of goodness”
Opening Prayer
Gospel
One day Jesus told this parable: “Fruit that is rotten and bad can never grow on a strong and healthy tree, just as good fruit cannot grow on a tree that is sick and diseased.”
“Different fruits grow on different trees, and everyone knows which fruit belongs to which type of tree. Like the tree and its fruit, a good person will speak and act kindly, because of the goodness in their hearts.”
Discussion
Trees can be identified by the fruit growing on their branches. Apples only grow on apple trees, and pears only grow on pear trees!
What do you need to get a good crop of tasty healthy apples?
An apple tree that is healthy and well cared for will usually produce lots of good fruit. A tree which is attacked by disease or pests, or whose branches and trunks are rotten, will only produce poor apples.
Just as you can tell whether a tree is good or bad by the fruit it grows, so the words and actions of people reveal the state of their hearts. If we are healthy and strong and full of God’s goodness, then that goodness will show in our lives. If our hearts are selfish and unkind, then we will be selfish and unkind people.
How can we make sure our lives are filled with God’s love and goodness?
Jesus comes to each one of us in a very special way when we receive the holy Eucharist. Just as a tree needs to be nourished to produce good fruit, so we need the bread of life to nourish us.
Jesus shares his love and goodness by giving himself to us. We invite Jesus into our lives, and the goodness he shares with us overflows into our daily words and actions.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
may people see the fruits of your love,
and goodness of our hearts; in the way we treat other people.
AMEN